OXFORDSHIRE Animal Sanctuary managers need a big legacy or major corporate donation in 2019 to avoid ending up with financial problems.

The Stadhampton-based sanctuary looks after abandoned cat, dogs and other animals and rehomes 500 pets a year but it takes £500,000 a year to run.

As a result, the charity relies on donations coming in throughout the year so that it can pay for staff, vets' bills, food for the animals and improved living conditions.

The past 12 months has been a good year for the sanctuary following a legacy from founder Margaret Gray.

Mrs Gray, who died aged 100 in 2017, left £300,000 in her will - a massive boost for the charity.

Iain Atkin, manager of the sanctuary, which looks after about 50 cats and up to 60 dogs, said the legacy has been invested in new kennels for dogs.

A block of 10 new kennels cost £170,000 while a further £130,000 was spent on the refurbishment of a 14-kennel block, with the latest launched in October.

Now a fundraising drive has been launched to raise £150,000 in 2019 for a block of 10 new kennels to be built.

Mr Atkin said: "It has been a very good year and our focus in 2019 will be on raising £150,000 for the latest kennel block, which give our dogs much better living conditions.

"We are trying to rely less on legacies by attracting donations from businesses but so far this has not really happened and we need a major legacy or big corporate donation in the next two years or we could be in financial trouble. "We can't cut costs because we can not cut our standards of welfare - direct debits are what we look for.

"This is the one place animals can come if they have medical conditions - this is the last chance saloon for a lot of animals."

Vets' bills cost £100,000 a year and Mr Atkin has written to more than 200 companies this year soliciting their support.

While some families are tempted to get their children a pet for Christmas, the sanctuary manager is advising against it.

He said: "Year after year we have to pick up the pieces when families buy a pet for their children and then realise in the new year that they can't cope with the cat or the dog.

"We stop people adopting pets on December 9 and the embargo runs through to January 8.

"People can come in and reserve a pet during that time but they can't take them hope during that period.

"With so much going in people's houses during the festive period there's a lot of extra noise and chaos - it's the wrong time of year for an animal to be rehomed."

Mr Atkin thanked the staff team of 18 for their support during the year and the team of volunteers.

He added: "We have more than enough volunteers at the moment - what we really need is more money coming in."

Last Christmas the RSPCA got more than 800 calls to its cruelty hotline from across the Thames Valley, including 360 from Oxfordshire.

People can report instances of cruelty to animals on a confidential basis by calling 0300 1234 999.

For more information about Oxfordshire Animal Sanctuary, or to make a donation, visit oxfordshireanimalsanctuary.org.uk